Senate Ethics Committee Dismisses Complaint Against Dodd

Outgoing Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) is catching a break just in time for the new year, after the Senate Ethics Panel dismissed a complaint against him.

Judicial Watch — a conservative public interest group — filed the complaint against Dodd, saying he “assisted a longtime friend and associate to obtain a reduced sentence and ultimately a full presidential pardon from President Clinton for tax and securities crimes, in exchange for gifts.”But after nearly two years of investigations, the ethics committee reportedly did not find sufficient evidence that Dodd violated ethics rules. Dodd said in a statement that he “appreciated” the Senate’s cooperation in making its decision.

“Even in corrupt Washington, the Ethics Committee’s despicable handling of the Dodd matter is about as bad it gets,” said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, in a statement. “No wonder Congress’s approval rating is just 13%, an all-time low.”